Sri Lanka
Between green tea plantations, wild elephants, and palm-fringed beaches: your guide to Sri Lanka.
Our Guide to Sri Lanka
-
Flair
Exotic, compact, and genuinely welcoming.
-
Best time to visit
December through March (west coast) or May through September (east coast).
-
Trip length
Two to three weeks to see the whole island.
-
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee — bring cash, you'll need it.
-
Tipping
A 10% service charge is often already included; if not, leave a tip.
-
Transport
The train ride through the highlands is seriously one of the best in the world.
Where is what in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, sitting just south of India — its west coast is only 237 km from the southern tip of the subcontinent.
So you know exactly where everything is before your trip, we’ve pinned all the most important places and attractions on a map for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Sri Lanka?
At just 25,332 square miles, Sri Lanka is a very small country — roughly the size of Ireland or the state of West Virginia. Don’t let that fool you though: there’s an enormous amount to see packed into that space.
How many people live in Sri Lanka?
Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is home to almost 21 million people, which works out to a population density of around 333 people per square kilometer. It can feel surprisingly busy in places.
What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
The largest city and economic and cultural center is Colombo, with around 750,000 residents in the city proper and over two million in the greater metro area.
The official seat of government, however, is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte — a satellite city of Colombo that has served as the political capital since 1982.
What languages are spoken in Sri Lanka?
The main official language is Sinhalese, spoken by around 16 million people and the native tongue of the country’s largest ethnic group. Tamil is the second national language.
English was an official language until 1957 (a legacy of British colonization) and is still widely used in education and everyday communication — which makes getting around as a traveler pretty straightforward.
What is the time difference in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka runs on Indian Standard Time (IST), UTC+5:30. There’s no daylight saving time, so the offset stays consistent year-round. Coming from the UK, you’re looking at +5:30 hours; from the US East Coast, it’s +10:30 hours.
What currency does Sri Lanka use?
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Exchange rates fluctuate quite a bit, so it’s worth checking the current rate before you travel. That said, Sri Lanka is generally an affordable destination once you’re there.
